Oisans - Venosc

Art and craft shops feature wood painting, pottery, ceramics, precious wood sculptures, silk painting, watercolours, leatherwear, jewellery... and if you want to find out anything just ask the friendly Monsieur Laval at the jewellery shop!

Les Deux Alpes and its ski area can be reached by a 6 person cable car which is usually open until 7pm.

If you want to venture to Les Deux Alpes in the evening or take part in activities during the day, the bustlingresort of Les Deux Alpes has a varied après ski scene which caters for all ages with various inviting bars and clubs. In addition to a heated outdoor swimming pool, outdoor ice rink and sports centre, Les Deux Alpes offers a tanking centre with flotarium, sauna and Turkish baths to help relax any aching limbs at the end of a hard day’s activity. Les Deux Alpes is a 20 minute drive away.

Les 2 Alpes Resort Opening Dates

Les 2 Alpes opens on 27th November 2010 and closes on 30th April 2011

Venosc cable caropen from 27/11 to 18/12 from 7.45am to 10 am and from 16.30 pm to 18 pm and all the day from 19/12 from 7.45 am to

19 pm ...

Follow the links below

Why Venosc?

·          High altitude skiing at Les Deux Alpes and excellent snow record. One of the largest glaciers in the Alps and Europe’s largest summer skiing area.

·          Above average sunshine conditions.

·          Charming little mountain village away from the hustle and bustle

·          Linked to Les Deux Alpes by gondola

Childcare (in Les Deux Alpes only)

New for 2009!!

Le Bonhomme de Neige - Creche, day nursery and leisure centre all under one roof! Located close to the snow garden, this new centre caters for children from 6 months to 6 years.

Creche at Les Deux Alpes – from 6 months – 2 years

Qualified nurses look after children. Hot meals available at lunchtimes.

2 half-days of adaption are required. Health books are required. Previous day booking. Open from 08.30-17.30.

Rates (approx):

Mornings, 08.30-12.30 : €20 with meals and €17 without.

Afternoons, 13.30-17.30 : €8, afternoon tea included.

Full days, 08.30-17.30 : €31.50 meals included.

Contact : 0033 476 79 02 62

Day Nursery at Les Deux Alps –from 2 years – 6 years

Everyday from 08.30-17.00.

Takes children for ½ or full days with or without nap. Health book required. Registration will be made on site or by phone, daily from 8:30 to 11:00, later than the day-ahead, the extent of available places.

Rates (approx):
Day from 8:30 to 17:00 (possible from 3 years)
1 day = € 31.50
2 days = € 63.00
3 days = € 90.50
4 days = 118.00 €
5 days = € 144.00
6 days = € 168.00

Half day + lunch + nap from 8h30 to 14h00
1 day = € 22.00
2 days = € 44.00
3 days = € 65.00
4 days = € 85.00
5 days = € 103.00
6 days = € 121.00

½ day + dinner 8:30 to 12:30
1 day = € 20.00
2 days = € 40.00
3 days = € 60.00
4 days = € 78.00
5 days = € 94.50
6 days = € 110.00

Morning 8:30 to 11:30 or afternoon 14h00-17h00 without nap (possible from 3 ½ years)
1 day = € 16.00
2 days = € 31.50
3 days = € 47.00
4 days = € 60.00
5 days = € 72.00
6 days = € 84.00

Home after ski school from 12:30 to 17:00 (possible from 3 years)
1 day = € 22.00
2 days = € 44.00
3 days = € 65.00
4 days = € 85.00
5 days = € 103.00
6 days = € 121.00

* A child will never be allowed in full day on the first day. An adaptation of at least half a day is required (with or without meals).
MEALS
* For hygienic reasons, no meal can be brought from outside.

Contact : 0033 476 79 06 77

Leisure Centre at Les Deux Alpes –from 6 years – 12 years.

During the holidays, all areas combined open every day except Saturday, from 8:30 to 17:30.
Excluding holidays, open Wednesdays and Sundays from 8:30 to 17:30.

Animation proposed: Crafts, snowshoeing, board games, painting, games, swimming.
Each week, a specific program is available from information points Les 2 Alpes.

For more information and to pre-register, you can contact FRANCINE and EMILIA 04 76 79 85 40.

Rates (Approx):
½ day = 10 €
½ day with lunch = 13 €
day without meal = 19 €
day with lunch = 22 €
Package 5 days = 90 €

Children’s Ski Lessons in Les Deux Alpes

Children can ski from 3 years old in Les Deux Alpes with ESF or from 4 years old with European Ski School.

Peak Retreats can pre-book this. See here for details on 2 Alpes ESF and ESS Ski Schools.

Children’s Activities in Les Deux Alpes

Quad

Tel:@ 0033 681 31 64 01

Quad2alpes@wanadoo.fr

Kid’s circuit – centre of resort opposite Hotel Cote Brune and the Coolidge ski lift, kids can try out quad biking on a safe circuit (helmets provided). From 4 years. Open 10.00-12.30 and 14.00-18.00 (weather dependant) in Les 2 Alps.

Espace Luge (Sledging)

Tel: 0033 621 65 64 31

Open all afternoon - €5

Alpette Sledge Run

For children only. Protected, access free.

Activities in Venosc

Snowshoeing, donkey rides, ski joering, sleigh rides, paragliding,

Let yourself be pulled along on skis by a donkey or mule, snow conditions permitting. Tariff: c15 € for 30 min with horses. c10 € for 30 min for children, with donkeys. Sleigh rides c5 € per child, 1 hour trip minimum, 3 children minimum. It’s necessary to book for ski-joering.

The donkey farm is open throughout the season non-stop, everyday.TARIFF: c3 € per person - c2,50 € children from 3 to 12 years. Children under 3 years are free.

Hikes:

Venosc is situated at the edge of the National Park, a paradise for hikers.

Hikes to do by foot or with snowshoes....

Small hikes - Less than 1 hours (go/ back)

Muzelle Waterfall 30 mn by foot

Discovery VENOSC hamlets … 40 mn by foot

The CRISTALLIERES... 30 mn by foot

Hikes from 1 to 2 hours

LAIRETTE ( 1000 m ) 1h30 to go

to go to DEUX ALPES(discover path) 1h30 to go up

To go to the DANCHERE1h15 to go/1h to come back

More than 2 hours

To go to the LAKE LAUVITEL3 hours by foot

To go to the lake and Muzelle's hut - 4 hours by foot

Most of the activities take place in Les Deux Alpes where there are hundreds to choose from. See more resort info on Les Deux Alpes page.

Eating Out and Après-Ski in Venosc

7 restaurants/bars and 1 pub with music. Over 40 bars and 3 nightclubs in Les Deux Alpes.

All the above information is for information only. For the most up-to-date information please visit the resort tourist office website

Venosc tourist office
38520 Venosc
Tél. : +33 (0) 476 80 06 82 or contact by email: info@venosc.com
www.venosc.com

Access to Venosc       

By Road: Driving distance from Calais to Venosc 587 miles (approx 8hrs25)

Motorway to Grenoble from Calais (exit N°8 Briançon, Vizille, stations de l’Oisans), then RN91 direction Briançon via the Bourg d’Oisans.

By Rail: Grenoble station 85km – Shuttle bus +33 476 80 51 22 www.vfd.fr

Click here to check schedules for this service

We can also arrange car hire from Grenoble station

Airports:

Grenoble Airport is 104km from Venosc (1 ½ hours)

www.grenoble.aeroport.fr - Shuttle bus Monnet

Chambery Airport is 130km from Venosc (1 ¾  hours)

www.chambery-airport.com

Lyon Saint-Exupery is 152km from Venosc (1 ¾ hours) www.lyon.aeroport.fr  - Shuttle bus Satobus

Geneva Airport is 211km from Venosc (2 ½ hours)

www.gva.ch/en

Airport Transfers to Venosc

Pre-book your private taxi transfer with Peak Retreats

Les Deux Alpes from Lyon, Grenoble, Chambey and Geneva

For prices click here

We can also arrange car hire from Lyon or St-Etienne airport

Access Plan

Venosc France

Click on map to enlarge

Resort Map

Venosc France

SKI AREA

The ski area is well suited to all standards of skiers/boarders and most are above treeline. The pistes are separated into 3 areas: Pied-Moutet, Mont de Lans village and the high summits (3,600m glacier). There are 2 sides to Les 2 Alpes, the main side with the glacier and majority of pistes and the Vallee Blanche side opposite with blues and reds.

Skiing is available to all, both beginners and experts. One of the specialities of Les 2 Alpes is that ‘the higher the altitude, the easier the pistes’. 60% of its pistes are for beginners and intermediates and 40% for

experienced and expert skiers.

There are 417ha of sign posted pistes (of which 80ha are on the glacier) and 1,400ha off piste including the famous link to La Grave.

Above 2200m most of the runs are north-facing and the top glacier section guarantees good snow.

BEGINNERS

Beginners will enjoy the magnificent views from the top of the glacier (high altitude) with wide easy runs or the nursery slopes at resort level beside the village. There are 7 lifts free for all on the lower slopes of Les Deux Alpes. Beginners with 3 or 4 days practise (depending on how quick they pick it up) could potentially ski from the top of the glacier down to resort level on greens and easy blues. That’s 8km worth of skiing!

INTERMEDIATES

Intermediatesare well catered for with a good array of blues and reds.

The top Glacier du Mont de Lans area has some easy slopes with nice views. You can go from the top down to Mont de Lans (a descent of 2270m vertical, possibly world’s biggest on-piste vertical).

EXPERTS

There are plenty of black runs and off-piste to keep the expert skier busy. For the more adventurous, an outing to the slopes of La Grave is a must (guide necessary). 2 Alpes is reached by snowcat from the top of the ski area to the 3568m Dome de la Lauze or a short walk.

OFF-PISTE

The extensive off-piste terrain is huge (5 different domains) and challenging. There is a good selection of serious routes with vertical drops.

SNOWBOARDERS

Les 2 Alpes also ranks amongst France’s best for snowboarding. At mid-mountain, there are two boarder-cross courses and a big terrain-park (probably the best in Europe) including half-pipe and higher up there are several innovative terrain features such as ledges, gullies, canyons, all of competition standard.

RESORT RUNS

Currently there is a long very narrow green run (often icy) or black runs (again often icy) that take you back down to the resort. Those beginners with lack of confidence and intermediates would be better to ride the gondola back down. They are planning a blue run to be built for 2012/2013 season so this will be a massive improvement.

Did you know?

The glacier situated between 3,200m and 3,600m is a great asset. To preserve it and counterbalance the wind at an altitude of more 3,000m, they have used a specific technique for 2 years: snow traps. The mechanical lifts company stocks the snow with wooden barriers or half tubes dug into the glacier. Snow groomers then collect this snow daily to distribute it on all the ski slopes of the glacier. The work carried out during the winter allows us to guarantee the skiability of the high altitude ski area and also ensure perfect skiing conditions in the summer season.

AT THE SUMMIT

At an altitude of 3,400m, discover an extraordinary 360° panorama over the French and Italian Alps, from Mont Blanc to Mont Ventoux, without forgetting La Meije and the mountain range of Les Ecrins. Thanks to its unique geographical location, it offers stunning and exceptional views.

TO DO

The White Cruise: a 45 minute circuit in a snowcat to discover the mountains in all their splendour (3,600m).

The Ice cave, an extraordinary site created in 1993. After 17 years, it is now at an altitude of 3,200m. Change of place and decor, 20 sculptors and 6 months of hard manual work. The sculptures are a surprise, you’ll have to come and discover them for yourself!

Helicopter trips to Alpe-d’Huez are 65 euros return and a shuttle-bus goes on Wednesdays and Thursdays (booking essential).

Les 2 Alpes night skiing

Teleski des Lutins – open from Dec-April.

2 ALPES PISTE MAP

To see the 2 Alpes piste map for 11/12 please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page. *Please note on the Pied Moutet piste map that the Bons chairlift is no longer in use from winter 09/10.

2 ALPES SNOW REPORTS

To see 2 Alpes snow reports please see the resort guide panel on the top right hand side of the current page.

What’s new with the ski area for 11/12?

See LES DEUX ALPES RESORT NEWS

Les 2 Alpes Lift passes

Save Time in resort and budget ahead by pre-booking lift passes. See below for Les Deux Alpes lift pass prices.

Peak Retreats organises your LES DEUX ALPES LIFT PASS for you as part of the service.

Check our great package prices for Les Deux Alpes. Prices from £411pp which include accommodation, transport, lift pass, ski & boot hire.

FREE PASSES!

Children under 5 and seniors over 72 receive a FREE lift pass.

Note: Proof of age will be required for reduced price passes.

Compulsory €2/pass deposit for hands free pass to pay locally for Les Deux Alpes ski passes. Deposit refunded to you when hand back pass at end of stay (undamaged). No photo necessary.

Skiing is free from 7 mechanical lifts (bottom of the pistes – 1,600m).

Other lift pass on offer (to buy locally in resort in Euros):

Les 2 Alpes ski pass – ½ day and daily rates:
Day ski-passes are broken down into 3 passes giving partial or total access to the skiing area:

Foot of pistes for ½ day = 11.50 €

Ski Sympa (21 ski lift) = 20.50 €

Super Ski (entire skiing area)
Adult = 40.80 €
Under 13 / over 65 = 32.60 €

HALF DAY SKI PASS
from (adult) = 34.70 €
from (under 13) = 27.70 €

7 ski lifts free for all at the bottom of the pistes

2 Alpes Ski Schools    

PRE-BOOK* your 2 Alpes GROUP SKI/BOARD LESSONS

Two choices – Book with either ESS or ESF at Les 2 Alpes

Please note that a booking fee of £9 per party will be charged

Group Ski Lessons with Les Deux Alpes ski schools

The European Ski School is an independent ski school. Its name has become synonymous with a quality product. With a carefully selected team of national ski instructors from Italy, France, Britain and Austria, their aim is to provide a fun and effective way to improve your skiing.  All the non-British instructors speak great English, and the team is comprised of experts passionate about skiing.  All groups will benefit from video analysis (weather permitting).  All clients will receive progress reports and all children will receive a certificate and a medal.

Please note that a booking fee of £9 per party will be charged.

During high seasons, lessons times may be moved forward 1 hour too ensure maximum skiing time, avoiding too much queuing.

Times and Schedules (ALL TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED, SUBJECT TO CHANGES).

1  BEGINNERS 3 hrs, Mornings - Sun 11.00-13.45, Mon - Fri 9.30-12.30

2  Level 1 to 6: 2 hrs 45 - Sun 11.00-13.45, Mon - Fri 10.00-12.45, Weds off.

3  2hrs, Afternoons Sun - Fri, 1st session on Sun morning for beginners.

4  2hrs, Afternoons Sun - Tues All levels except Beginners - max. 4 in group/queue priority.                                                              

Ski School – Ecole du Ski Francais

Les 2 Alpes Individual Tuitions

(10/11 prices, NOT pre-bookable)

Everyday from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm
On Saturday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Individual tuitions can only be purchased directly from the ski school. Peak Retreats cannot pre-book these.

Please note that prices are only an indication and are subject to change

Ski school Les 2 Alpes contact numbers:

Ecole du Ski Francais 2 Alpes: Tél. 0033 476 79 21 21 –

Fax 0033 476 79 22 07

ESS contact numbers:

Ecole du Ski Francais 2 Alpes: Tél. 0033  476 79 74 55

Les 2 Alpes Ski Hire

Les Deux Alpes ski hire prices start from £37 for children (skis and boots) & £54 for adults (skis and boots) for 7 days.

View here for Les Deux Alpes ski hire prices

Mountain restaurants in Les Deux Alpes: 

9 mountain restaurants open 7 days a week.

There are mountain restaurants at all the major lift junctions.

Les Deux Alpes Snowpark

Probably the best in Europe and features:

Three tables, rails, hips and boxes, a big air jump, half-pipe, kids only mini park, beginner zone and rail zone. Plus boardercross and BBQ area. In the winter it is located above Toura.

Les Deux Alpes Cross-country

Les Deux Alpes: 2 marked tracks through the woods

Linked to Les Deux Alpes by cable car, the Valley of Veneon (Venosc) is an untouched natural area with 3 marked tracks from 3km to 24km.

Les Deux Alpes Free-riding

There are numerous spots where free-riding is possible including the famous Vallons de la Meije with its 2150m of variations in altitude and as you can imagine scenery to match!

Every week from January to end of April there will be free-ride talks, safety sessions and a free free-riding try-out with a guide.

Les Deux Alpes Mountain Guides and Leaders Office

0033 476 11 36 29

guides2alpes@yahoo.fr

- Off-piste

Skiing, snowboarding and freeriding. Vallons de la Meije, off-piste at Les 2 Alpes, Alpe d’Huez or Serre Chevalier. From €70pp or group bookings from €310.

- Snowshoe trekking

1/2, full days or evening outings. From €23 per half day, €40 per day, €20 per evening.

*ALL PRE-BOOKABLE EXTRAS ARE PAYABLE TO PEAK RETREATS IN STERLING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. PRICES ARE IN £.

ANYTHING IN EUROS (€) WE ARE UNABLE TO PRE-BOOK AND

WILL BE PAYABLE LOCALLY.